In Giving Petraeus an Honor, an Institution Gets Some Buzz

David H. Petraeus ended his first day as a visiting professor at the City University of New York last Monday listening to the shouts of protesters calling him a “murderer” and “war criminal” as he walked nearby down Central Park West. But that same day, just a few blocks away, the New-York Historical Society was notifying members that it planned to honor Mr. Petraeus at its black-tie gala in December.

The former general’s selection — to be formally announced this fall — is hardly the first time a cultural organization has decided to honor a figure of some debate at its annual fund-raiser. But it is rare for someone like Mr. Petraeus, who is widely acclaimed as a hero but has recently been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to be so highly recognized so soon after his fall from grace.

Mr. Petraeus resigned as director of the Central Intelligence Agency less than a year ago after acknowledging an extramarital affair with his biographer, Paula Broadwell, whose possible access to classified information has been the subject of the investigation.

Nonprofit galas tend to honor prominent people with broad appeal who will prompt their wealthy friends and associates to buy tables. The historical society’s previous honorees have included people like Walter Cronkite, Wynton Marsalis and Robert Caro. It has also honored Bill Clinton, though more than a decade after the scandal that tarnished his presidency.

The selection of an honoree is one of the most important decisions a cultural organization can make because galas are often the chief fund-raiser of the year and can affect how an organization is perceived.

Controversy can help sell tickets, experts say, but it can also backfire. “It’s a question of whether the accomplishments outweigh the controversy,” said Michael M. Kaiser, president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, who founded the DeVos Institute of Arts Management.

The historical society says it did not set out to stir the pot in choosing Mr. Petraeus, merely to highlight an accomplished public figure whose personal problems it views as a thing of the past. “I think very few people would argue that this was someone who was a genuine American hero,” said Roger Hertog, the society’s chairman, who will be honored at the gala along with Mr. Petraeus. “I was honored by his agreement to this.”

The society did not disclose a fund-raising goal for the gala, scheduled for Dec. 2 at the Pierre Hotel, but last year’s — which paired the author Walter Isaacson with Mr. Marsalis, the musician — brought in $2.4 million. This year’s tables — which are named after historic figures — are $10,000 (Adams), $25,000 (Jefferson), $50,000 (Hamilton) and $100,000 (Washington).

The society typically pairs a business executive with a history maker or historian. In keeping with the organization’s usual format, Mr. Petraeus will take questions from the audience after making his remarks.

“He has a particular perspective on contemporary history that we thought would be of interest for our audience,” said Louise Mirrer, the society’s president and chief executive. “We’re a center for debate and discussion and we like to have people in our midst who will make people think critically.”

“I’ve had people say, ‘I’m not coming to your gala because I don’t like the honoree,’ ” she added, speaking of past events. “That’s just the way it is.”

Betsy Gotbaum, a former president of the society, said she thought Mr. Petraeus was an inspired choice precisely because he’s something of a lightning rod. “That makes people want to come,” she said. “Remember the exhibition I did on lynching? That was controversial, honey. More people came in than had ever come in in my tenure, and I felt that was really important. This thing will be completely sold out.”

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David H. PetraeusCreditReed Saxon/Associated Press

Mr. Petraeus’s thoughts on the historical society’s recognition have not been made public. He declined through a spokesman to take questions for this article.

But he has been increasing his public appearances and has enlisted Robert Barnett, the Washington lawyer and crisis manager, to help coordinate his re-emergence.

In a speech in March honoring veterans and the Reserve Officers Training Corps program at the University of Southern California, Mr. Petraeus issued a resounding mea culpa, saying, “how deeply I regret — and apologize for — the circumstances that led me to resign from the C.I.A. and caused such pain for my family, friends and supporters.”

He has also specifically denied providing Ms. Broadwell with access to any classified materials.

In addition to his CUNY post, Mr. Petraeus is an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California; a senior vice president at the Royal United Services Institute; an adviser to Team Rubicon, a public-service venture involving veterans; and chairman of the KKR Global Institute, a division of the Kohlberg Kravis Roberts investment firm.

The decision to invite Mr. Petraeus was not hotly debated. Mr. Hertog said he simply thought Mr. Petraeus would make a good honoree and recommended him to Ms. Mirrer, who agreed. The matter was not put before the society’s board and several board members did not know of the selection when called to solicit their thoughts, but all voiced support for the decision.

“He had a very distinguished career,” said Kenneth T. Jackson, a Columbia University historian and editor of the Encyclopedia of New York City, who is on the board. “His personal life doesn’t seem to warrant the condemnation that he got.”

Ric Burns, the filmmaker, who is also on the board, said selecting Mr. Petraeus — a riskier choice than in prior years — seemed to be of a piece with the society’s recent efforts to remake itself as a more contemporary institution, most notably with a renovation completed in 2011.

At least one historian, David Nasaw, who is a past winner of the society’s American History Book Prize, was not enthusiastic about the selection. “It wouldn’t have been my choice, but then I favor historians and individuals who have made a considerable contribution to our understanding of New York and U.S. history,” said Mr. Nasaw, a history professor at the CUNY Graduate Center. “And I’ve seen no evidence that General Petraeus has done that.”

A soldier-scholar known for his intellect and almost ascetic self-discipline, Mr. Petraeus earned celebrity status for a counterinsurgency strategy that helped turn around the war in Iraq, and for applying that doctrine — which he had helped devise — in Afghanistan after Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal was fired by President Obama.

But Mr. Petraeus has not entirely avoided controversy since leaving the C.I.A. Several months ago, long before protests about his military role, critics at CUNY objected to the news that he would be paid $200,000 to teach once a week; he eventually reduced his salary to $1.

Fund-raising experts say all of this just means Mr. Petraeus is likely to bring more philanthropic dollars in the door come December.

“They’re looking for someone who will be attractive to the donor base,” Mr. Kaiser said. “He’s a big get.”

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